The following are reviews of Liza's first live album, Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli: "LIVE" at the London Palladium, written for fans, by fans. If you would like to contribute a review of the album yourself, feel free to submit it to me at Beatle_Babe32@hotmail.com and I will be sure to add it to the page ASAP! You will receive full credit to your name with your review.
"Judy and Liza: Live at the London Palladium" is an absolute must-have for both Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli fans alike. Despite Judy's aging voice, as far as I'm concerned, everything about this album is sheer perfection. (Well, aside from the small matter that the show has never been released in its 100% full state, but this is beside the point.) This album also marks the quintessential passing of the torch, as it were: as one star was beginning to fade, the other was just beginning her ascent to superstardom. This album is a perfect snapshot of that very historic moment.
Naturally, the album is far more Judy-oriented than vice versa, as Liza was her guest star and not the other way around. You can feel both the airs of competitiveness between the two, yet in other moments, nothing more than mutual love between mother and daughter. I personally feel as though this point in particular contributes strongly to just why this particular album is so gripping and intriguing. Not to mention that while Judy's voice was not the perfectly tuned instrument it once was back in her youth, the imperfections give her voice a smoky, sultry tone to it that wasn't there in younger years.
Which brings us to Liza. Liza had been working a strand of on and off Broadway musicals, as well as having performed on Judy's TV show twice before American audiences. She was no stranger to performing in front of an audience, but was still new enough to the game to still be in the process of discovering her sound and just what her vocal range was capable of. At points, her voice is soft and silky; at others, it's downright shrill and shrieky. Still, despite the nuances in her voice, one can't deny that this was one special, talented young lady who would definitely be going places.
The particular selection of songs used in this performance are a quirky, unusual, and completely unpredictable mixture, but somehow it works splendidly in the way of one magical evening. Everything from the typical Judy standards ("Over The Rainbow", "The Man That Got Away", "Rock a Bye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody", etc.) to tracks such as "How Could You Believe Me?", "Pass That Peace Pipe", "Don't Rain On My Parade". But, with two fabulous divas such as Judy and Liza, "predictable" is never a term that should ever be used to describe either of them. Such is the case with this setlist.
If you're a fan of either (or both!) these phenomenal ladies, then you NEED this album in your collection. You won't regret it!
-- Jennifer Abraham
